Mountain biking: Win dedicated to McGarry (+video)

Canadian rider Brandon Semenuk won the 2016 Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle event in a race he said was all about late Kiwi rider and track-builder Kelly McGarry.

Late rider and track-builder Kelly McGarry.

Semenuk, 25, pulled together the best run of the day during the slopestyle competition on Saturday - the main event at the Crankworx Rotorua festival on Mt Ngongotaha.

The competition featured a course laden with massive jumps and 18 world-class riders capable of performing outrageous tricks.

McGarry tragically died last month from a heart attack and built the slopestyle course for the inaugural Crankworx Rotorua last year, alongside his track building partner Tom Hey.

"This whole event is for sure in memory of him. We wouldn't have this event if he did not pour his heart and soul into this track," Semenuk said.

Semenuk won the competition and Kelly McGarry Memorial Trophy with a score of 94.33, just beating second-placed Nicholi Rogatkin (93.00) who threw down the world's first 1080 during a slopestyle event. Last year's champion and world No1 Brett Rheeder (Canada) finished third.

Semenuk said ever since he first roomed with McGarry they became good mates.

"I hung out with him a lot. I can't remember the first time I met him, but I remember the first time I roomed with him at an event. He came in and his arm was all bandaged up from the event before, and he was just the nicest guy ever, we got along instantly.

"Then he had a crash the next day on the course and his arm was even more battered, and he had a cast on it.

"But just being Kelly he took the cast off and still rode the event and killed it. And that goes to show how awesome he was ... and he just wanted to be apart of what we have."

Semenuk was rapt to win the event after crashing out of contention last year.

"It always feels good to lay down a good run and walk away with a win, I'm so stoked. And I love this course so to get the run I wanted feels good."

Semenuk won $20,000 for winning the event. Last year's champ Rheeder said this was his favourite course in the world.

"It is the best course that I have ever ridden. Seriously," he said. "Kelly McGarry built this course, with Tom Hey, and he's also built the Colorado Freeride Festival course, and those are the two best courses I have ever ridden." A tribute to McGarry was also held during the event.

Podium:

1. Brandon Semenuk (Canada) score 94.33

2. Nicholi Rogatkin (US) score 93.00

3. Brett Rheeder (Canada) score 92.00